Alli Smith is one of our community members whose creative recipes and mouthwatering food photos will have you stalking her Instagram. She’s a Southern-based blogger who’s caught the attention of major magazines. Alli took her natural born talent to entertain to launch her blog. Make sure you follow her on social media after you read this Influencer Spotlight.
Alli Smith, Foodie & Party Planning Expert
What inspired you to start a blog? How would you describe your blog niche?
I started my blog because family and friends were always asking me for recipes and advice on how to decorate for parties. I had no idea I could actually make money while having fun blogging. Cooking/Entertaining is my niche and whether I’m planning a pajama party for 50 women or a small intimate dinner party, I enjoy every aspect of creating menus, cooking and decorating. I don’t like the cleanup but it’s something I have to deal with.
Tell us about a typical work day as a blogger. What time do you stop/start your workday? How do you balance family and blogging?
The balancing act can be difficult at times. A couple of years ago, I set office hours for myself and I try to make sure I adhere to those hours.
I’m a morning person so my day starts around 5:30 AM. The first thing I do is grab a bottle of water, my workout clothes and get my daily workout done. After a shower, I grab a coffee, a small breakfast and start my workday around 7:00-7:30 AM. I usually end the day around 5:00 PM. I also take a couple of mini-breaks during the day.
I use a planner to keep up with what I’m working on and that determines if I’m writing blog posts, creating new recipes and photographing all the steps, or applying for sponsored posts. Sometimes, it’s all three.
One of the best business decisions I’ve made was to hire virtual assistants to handle my Facebook and Pinterest social media accounts. I’m still very much involved in my social media, but these VA’s have taken a huge workload off of my shoulders.
RELATED TOPIC: How Hiring a Virtual Assistant Helps Grow Your Blog
Why did you join The Network Niche? What has been your favorite brand partnership with our influencer network and why?
I joined The Network Niche because I love working with sponsors that I totally believe in and The Network Niche has the best opportunities.
I have two favorite brand partnerships through The Network Niche. The first one was when I was picked as one of three bloggers to host a DIH (Do It Herself) Workshop with Home Depot. We got a chance to interview Radio Personality, Delilah, and hang out in the VIP area. It was so much fun!
My other favorite is the Vidalia Onion campaign. I’m from a small town in Georgia, not far from Vidalia, so this one was extra special for me. I created a recipe and helped host a Twitter party. I also let everyone know how to properly pronounce Vidalia.
Describe your “dream” brand partnership?
I’ve worked with some of the top brands out there and I’ve felt extremely honored when some of those big brands purchased and used my photography in their store displays. I’ve also had brands buy recipes from me, etc. Some of my work has been featured in magazines. My dream is to partner with brands in order to travel, enjoy delicious food and write all about it. (Traveling and photography are some of my favorite hobbies)
What’s the next big project you’re working on? What do you want to accomplish by the end of the year?
I’m working on growing my Instagram! Facebook and Pinterest are, by far, my biggest social media platforms. I do love Instagram and was a little late to the game so I’m still learning what works and trying to organically grow from 7K to 10K followers. That’s my goal for this year. Also, I’ve been wanting to write a book for years and I have a feeling I will begin my book this year.
What’s your advice for someone who’d like to launch a brand new blog?
Just do it! There’s so much more helpful info on launching a blog than there was back when I started. I had to research for days. Blogging is fun but it is hard work. Carefully think about what you want your niche to be and think about your branding and your domain name before making decisions. Also, blogging is not cheap and you probably won’t start out working with brands until you’ve grown a bit so prepare to spend some money on a blog design, monthly hosting, etc.
Where do you see yourself and your blog in 5-10 years?
I expect to keep growing and getting more page views. These days, I don’t feel the need to crank out new material every single day. Those days are over! For me, it’s more about quality than quantity. When I visit my analytics, I find that the majority of my traffic comes from about 10 posts. I go back and make sure those posts are as good as they can be. So, I expect in 5-10 years, I’ll be enjoying traveling, adding new posts a couple of times a week and enjoying the benefits of all my hard work.
FOLLOW ANALLIEVENT ON INSTAGRAM | TWEET @ANALLIEVENT
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